Hybridization-mediated analysis of polymorphisms

ABSTRACT

Described are methods of assay design and assay image correction, useful for multiplexed genetic screening for mutations and polymorphisms, including CF-related mutants and polymorphs, using an array of probe pairs (in one aspect, where one member is complementary to a particular mutant or polymorphic allele and the other member is complementary to a corresponding wild type allele), with probes bound to encoded particles (e.g., beads) wherein the encoding allows identification of the attached probe. The methods relate to avoiding cross-hybridization by selection of probes and amplicons, as well as separation of reactions of certain probes and amplicons where a homology threshold is exceeded. Methods of correcting a fluorescent image using a background map, where the particles also contain an optical encoding system, are also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional No. 60/470,806, filed May 15, 2003.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The standard method of genomic analysis for mutations and polymorphisms, including for CF, is the “dot-blot” method. Samples including target strands are spotted onto a nitrocellulose support, and then contacted with labeled probes complementary to the mutations or polymorphic regions. The labels allow detection of probe hybridization to immobilized complementary target sequences, as unbound labeled probes are removed by washing. In another method—a “reverse dot-blot format”—an array of oligonucleotide probes is bound to a solid support, and then contacted with a sample including target sequences of interest. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,832.

[0003] Both methods of assaying mutations or polymorphisms have significant disadvantages. The dot-blot method is itself labor-intensive. It can also yield erroneous results due to the inaccurate reading of assay signals, usually done by autoradiography, which adds further labor, as the probes must be frequently re-labeled. The method described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,832 involves a complex and costly on chip synthesis of an array of oligonucleotides, an approach which is better-suited for large-scale genomic analysis and is neither practical nor cost-effective for diagnostic applications requiring only a limited but changing number of probes.

[0004] An assay method suitable for multiplexed analysis which avoids many of the problems associated with the above methods involves use of random encoded arrays of microparticles, where the encoding indicates the identity of an oligonucleotide probe molecule bound thereto. See U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/204,799: “Multianalyte Molecular Analysis Using Application-Specific Random Particle Arrays.” The bead array is contacted with labeled amplicons, generated from a patient sample, and the labels are then detected (if the labels are fluorescent, the detection can be with optical means) and the bound amplicons are identified by decoding of the array.

[0005] In a multiplexed hybridization assay, cross-hybridization among mismatched, but closely homologous, probes and amplicons can generate false positive signals. Thus, the assay should be designed to minimize such effects. A number of mutations and polymorphisms are significant only if they are homozygous, and therefore, to be useful in such cases, the assay must be capable of discriminating heterozygotes from homozygotes. Also, in determining the assay results, where both the encoding method for the beads and the determination of assay results is with optically detectable means, the encoding on the beads can cause spectral leakage, which can be affect the assay signal discrimination. A method of correcting for such spectral leakage is also needed.

[0006] Cystic fibrosis (“CF”) is one of the most common recessive disorders in Caucasians, with an occurrence of 1 in 2000 live births in the United States. Mutations in the cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene are associated with the disease. The number of CFTR mutations is growing continuously and rapidly, and more than 1,000 mutations have been detected to date. See Kulczycki L. L., et al. (2003), Am J Med Genet 116:262-67. Population studies have indicated that the most common CF mutation, a deletion of the 3 nucleotides that encode phenylalanine at position 508 of the CFTR amino acid sequence (designated ΔF508), is associated with approximately 70% of the cases of cystic fibrosis. This mutation results in the failure of an epithelial cell chloride channel to respond to cAMP (Frizzell R. A. et al. (1986) Science 233:558-560; Welsh, M. J. (1986) Science 232:1648-1650.; Li, M. et al. (1988) Nature 331:358-360; Quinton, P. M. (1989) Clin. Chem. 35:726-730). In airway cells, this leads to an imbalance in ion and fluid transport. It is widely believed that this causes abnormal mucus secretion observed in CF patients, and ultimately results in pulmonary infection and epithelial cell damage. A number of mutations are associated with CF, and researchers continue to reveal new mutations associated with the disease. The American College of Medical Genetics (“ACMG”) has recommended a panel of 25 of the most common CF-associated mutations in the general population, especially those in Ashkenazi Jewish and African-American populations. A multiplexed hybridization assay for CF-associated mutations in the general population would test for this panel.

SUMMARY

[0007] Described are practical and cost-effective methods of assay design and assay image correction, useful for multiplexed genetic screening for mutations and polymorphisms, including CF-related mutants and polymorphs, using an array of probe pairs (in one aspect, where one member is complementary to a particular mutant or polymorphic allele and the other member is complementary to a corresponding wild type allele), with probes bound to encoded particles (e.g., beads) wherein the encoding allows identification of the attached probe. The design methods disclosed herein were used to design an assay for CF-related mutations by hybridization-mediated multiplexed analysis, and were extensively validated in many patient samples, and demonstrated to be capable of identifying the most common mutations, including mutations in exons 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14b, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 and introns 8, 12, 19 of the CFTR gene.

[0008] Before hybridization, the region of interest in the genomic sample is amplified with two primers, one for each strand in the region of interest. Of the two strands generated in the PCR amplification step, one is arbitrarily designated herein as “sense” and one as “anti-sense.” In certain instances, it is desirable to select, for subsequent mutation analysis by hybridization, either the sense target strand (to be hybridized to sense probes) or the anti-sense target strand—to be hybridized to anti-sense probes. Strand selection is accomplished, for example, by post-PCR digestion of a phosphorylated strand. In particular, strand switching is desirable whenever probe-target combinations (e.g., sense-probe/sense target hybridization) involving a stable mismatch configuration, such as a G-T base pairing, can be avoided.

[0009] Also disclosed are methods of selecting probes and amplicons for genetic screening for mutations and polymorphisms. The method of selecting probes and amplicons involves the following steps:

[0010] providing a family of single-stranded MP amplicons in which one strand is designated sense and the complementary strand is designated anti-sense, said MP amplicons including amplified segments of the genome on which said genetic mutations or polymorphisms are located; selecting complementary MP probes for each member of said family of MP amplicons;

[0011] examining the degree of homology between either the complementary MP probes or between the family of MP amplicons;

[0012] dividing said MP probes into one or more probe sets, and dividing said MP amplicons into sets such that the members of each amplicon set are complementary to the members of one probe set, said division based on avoiding homology greater than an acceptance level between probes in the same set or between MP amplicons in the same set;

[0013] performing for each said set of amplicons in turn, the following steps for each MP amplicon in said set, in succession:

[0014] (a) (i) determining whether, upon contacting a sense MP amplicon with a probe set which includes a complementary MP probe to said sense amplicon, the degree of cross-hybridization of said sense MP amplicon with other MP probes in the probe set will exceed an acceptance level; and, if not:

[0015] (a) (ii) retaining said sense MP amplicon in the amplicon set and the complementary MP probe in the probe set, and repeating step (a) (i) for another MP amplicon in said family;

[0016] (b) (i) but if said degree of cross-hybridization does exceed said acceptance level:

[0017] replacing, in the probe set, the cross-hybridizing MP probe with the complementary anti-sense MP probe, and replacing, in the amplicon set, the complementary sense MP amplicon with the anti-sense MP amplicon complementary to said anti-sense MP probe, and

[0018] (b) (ii) repeating step (a) (i) and if the degree of cross-hybridization is within the acceptance level: retaining said anti-sense MP probe and corresponding complementary anti-sense MP amplicon in their respective sets and repeating step (a) (i);

[0019] (b) (iii) but if the degree of cross-hybridization exceeds the acceptance level after repeating step (a) (i): determining whether, upon contacting said anti-sense MP amplicon with the MP probes in any other set, the degree of cross-hybridization is within the acceptance level, and if so, placing the anti-sense MP probe complementary to said anti-sense MP amplicon into said set and placing said anti-sense MP amplicon into the set of complementary anti-sense MP amplicons; but if the degree of cross-hybridization exceeds the acceptance level following such determination for each existing probe set, reverting to the original sense MP probe and complementary sense MP amplicon and placing said sense MP probe and said complementary sense MP amplicon each into a new set, and

[0020] (c) repeating steps (a) to (c) for another sense MP amplicon in said family.

[0021] Also disclosed is a method for design of pairs of probes (with a member respectively complementary to a mutant and a wild type amplicon) for hybridization to labeled amplicons generated by amplification of samples and wild type controls. For each anticipated variant, probes are provided in pairs, with one member complementary to the wild type sequence and the other to the variant sequence, the two sequences often differing by only one nucleotide. One method to enhance the reliability of hybridization-mediated multiplexed analysis of polymorphisms (hMAP) is to determine the ratio of the signals generated by the capture of the target matched and mismatched probes and to set relative ranges of values indicative of normal and heterozygous or homozygous variants.

[0022] The method set forth above for selecting probes and amplicons for genetic screening for mutations and polymorphisms, can be included as part of a method to select probe pairs (wild-type and variant), by including the following steps in the afore-described method:

[0023] providing a family of single-stranded WT amplicons in which one strand is designated sense and the complementary strand is designated anti-sense, said family representing respective amplified segments of a wild type genome which corresponds to each of the amplified segments of the genome which was amplified when producing the family of MP amplicons; providing and selecting a sense or anti-sense WT probe so as to have both a sense WT probe and a corresponding sense MP probe in the same probe set or, or an anti-sense WT probe and a corresponding anti-sense MP probe in the same probe set;

[0024] determining: (i) whether the degree of cross-hybridization between a MP amplicon and a corresponding WT probe in a probe set, and between a WT amplicon and a corresponding MP probe in a probe set, will exceed the acceptance level and, if so, (ii) determining whether said degree of cross-hybridization will fall within the acceptance level if the selected sense or anti-sense MP and WT probes are replaced with the complementary WT and MP probes; and if so, (iii) determining whether said complementary WT and MP probes will exceed the acceptance level for cross-hybridization with amplicons complementary to other members of the same probe set, and if so, (iv) determining whether placing the complementary WT and MP probes into another probe set will exceed the acceptance level for cross-hybridization with amplicons complementary to other members of the same probe set, and if not: retaining the complementary WT and MP probes in said probe set; but if so, (v) repeating step (iv) for each existing probe set, and if said acceptance level is exceeded for each existing probe set, placing the complementary WT and MP probes into a new set and placing the complementary WT and MP amplicons into a corresponding new set.

[0025] Cross-hybridization is a concern in any assay involving multiplexed hybridization, and methods to avoid its deleterious effects on assay results are included herein. One method to correct for cross-hybridization in an array format, is to set a series of temperature increments, selected such that at each temperature, probe-target complexes containing particular mismatch configurations will denature, while those containing matched (“complementary”) base pair configurations will remain intact. The signals generated by captured labeled strands hybridized to probes in the array are then monitored and recorded at each temperature set point. Analysis of the evolution of differential signals as a function of temperature allows correction for each mismatch expected to become unstable above a certain “melting” temperature. After all set points for all mismatches are determined, data gathered at lower temperatures can be corrected for all mismatches.

[0026] In another aspect, because the assay method herein relies on encoded beads to identify the probe(s) attached thereto, and the encoding in one embodiment is by way of dye staining, the assay signals are often produced by using fluorescent labels and removing background contributions. Specifically, a method of correcting the assay image is disclosed. That is, within the spectral band selected for the recording of the assay image, the recorded set of optical signatures produced by target capture to bead-displayed probes in the course of the assay are corrected for the effects of “spectral leakage” (a source of spurious contributions to the assay image from the residual transmission) of intensity emitted by bead-encoding dyes of lower wavelength. An assay design is provided herein in which a negative control bead is included in the random encoded array for each type of encoded bead that produces unacceptably large spectral leakage, for example, for beads containing different amounts of specific encoding dyes.

[0027] In the examples described herein, negative control beads display an 18-mer C polynucleotide in order to serve a secondary purpose, i.e., to permit correction of assay images for the effects of non-specific adsorption. Preferably, the background correction is performed by constructing a background map based on the random locations of each type of negative control bead, where each such type of negative control bead is included in the array at a pre-selected abundance. For each type of negative control bead within the array, a background map is generated by locating the centroids of the beads of that type, constructing the associated Voronoi tessellation by standard methods (as illustrated in FIG. 3; see, e.g., Seul, O'Gorman & Sammon, “Practical Algorithms for Image Analysis,” Cambridge University Press, 2000; at page 222; incorporated by reference) and then filling each polygon which includes a bead with the intensity of such bead to produce a map (see, e.g., the map shown in FIG. 3). Optionally, standard filtering operations may be applied to smooth the map; that is, to average out effects from neighboring pixels. See, e.g., Seul, O'Gorman & Sammon, “Practical Algorithms for Image Analysis,” Cambridge University Press, 2000 for description of a filter).

[0028] Such a map represents a finite sample of the entire background contributions to the assay image in a manner that accounts for certain non-linear optical effects associated with arrays composed of refractive beads, which effects are especially pronounced when the beads are placed into mechanical traps on a substrate surface. In addition, background maps will indicate non-uniformities in the background which may arise, for example, from non-uniform illumination or non-uniform distribution of target or analyte placed in contact with the bead array. Maps for negative control beads of different types, i.e., containing different amounts of encoding dyes and producing different degrees of spectral leakage, may be normalized to the same mean intensity and superimposed to increase the sampling rate.

[0029] The assay image may be corrected as follows by employing the background map. In certain instances, the map is simply subtracted from the assay image to produce a corrected assay image. In other embodiments, the background can be combined with a “flat fielding” step (See, e.g., Seul, O'Gorman & Sammon, “Practical Algorithms for Image Analysis,” Cambridge University Press, 2000). In this procedure, the constant (i.e., the spatially non-varying) portions of the background map and assay image are subtracted, and the corrected assay image is divided by the corrected background map to obtain a “flat fielded” intensity map.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0030]FIG. 1 shows the results of hybridization of 29 different CFTR mutations; where the smaller open bars represent mutant hybridization, and where hybridization to the “normal” is represented by the larger black bars (e.g., EX-10 has a high degree of mutant hybridization).

[0031]FIG. 2 shows the results of hybridization of 29 CFTR mutations, with the mutations being different from those shown in FIG. 1.

[0032]FIG. 3 shows a background map of negative control carriers for correcting array images.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Provided herein are methods for hybridization-mediated multiplexed analysis of polymorphisms (hMAP) of a designated set of designated mutations in he Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene.

[0034] Probes used in the detection of mutations in a target sequence hybridize with high affinity to amplicons generated from designated target sites, when the entire amplicon, or a subsequence thereof, is fully complementary (“matched”) to that of the probe, but hybridize with a lower affinity to amplicons which have no fully complementary portions (“mismatched”). Generally, the probes of the invention should be sufficiently long to avoid annealing to unrelated DNA target sequences. In certain embodiments, the length of the probe may be about 10 to 50 bases, or preferably about 15 to 25 bases, and more preferably 18 to 20 bases.

[0035] Probes are attached, via their respective 5′ termini, using linker moieties through methods well known in the art, to encoded microparticles (“beads”) having a chemically or physically distinguishable characteristic uniquely identifying the attached probe. Probes are designed to capture target sequences of interest contained in a solution contacting the beads. Hybridization of target to the probe displayed on a particular bead produces an optically detectable signature. The optical signature of each participating bead uniquely corresponds to the probe displayed on that bead. Prior to, or subsequent to the hybridization step, one may determine the identity of the probes by way of particle identification and detection, e.g., by decoding or using multicolor fluorescence microscopy.

[0036] The composition of the beads includes, but is not limited to, plastics, ceramics, glass, polystyrene, methylstyrene, acrylic polymers, paramagnetic materials, thoria sol, carbon graphite, titanium dioxide, latex or cross-linked dextrans such as sepharose, cellulose, nylon, cross-linked micelles and Teflon. See “Microsphere Detection Guide” from Bangs Laboratories, Fishers Ind. The particles need not be spherical and may be porous. The bead sizes may range from nanometers (e.g., 100 nm) to millimeters (e.g., 1 mm), with beads from about 0.2 micron to about 200 microns being preferred, more preferably from about 0.5 to about 5 micron being particularly preferred.

[0037] In certain embodiments, beads may be arranged in a planar array on a substrate prior to the hybridization step. Beads also may be assembled on a planar substrate to facilitate imaging subsequent to the hybridization step. The process and system described herein provide a high throughput assay format permitting the instant imaging of an entire array of beads and the simultaneous genetic analysis of multiple patient samples.

[0038] The array of beads may be a randomly encoded array, that is, the code associated with each bead, placed during assembly into a position within the array that is not known a priori, indicates the identity of oligonucleotide probes attached to said beads. Random encoded arrays may be formed according to the methods and processes disclosed in International Application No. PCT/US01/20179, incorporated herein by reference.

[0039] The bead array may be prepared by employing separate batch processes to produce application-specific substrates (e.g., chip at the wafer scale) to produce beads that are chemically encoded and attached to oligonucleotide probes (e.g., at the scale of about 10⁸ beads/100 μl suspension). These beads are combined with a substrate (e.g., silicon chip) and assembled to form dense arrays on a designated area on the substrate. In certain embodiments, the bead array contains 4000 of 3.2 μm beads has a dimension of 300 μm by 300 μm. With different size beads, the density will vary. Multiple bead arrays can also be formed simultaneously in discrete fluid compartments maintained on the same chip. Such methods are disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. Ser. No. 10/192,352, entitled: ““Arrays of Microparticles and Methods of Preparation Thereof,” which is incorporated herein by reference. Bead arrays may be formed by the methods collectively referred to as “LEAPS™”, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,251,691, 6,514,771; 6,468,811 all of which are also incorporated herein by reference.

[0040] Substrates (e.g., chips) used in the present invention may be a planar electrode patterned in accordance with the interfacial patterning methods of LEAPS by, e.g., patterned growth of oxide or other dielectric materials to create a desired configuration of impedance gradients in the presence of an applied AC electric field. Patterns may be designed so as to produce a desired configuration of AC field-induced fluid flow and corresponding particle transport. Substrates may be patterned on a wafer scale by invoking semiconductor processing technology. In addition, substrates may be compartmentalized by depositing a thin film of a UV-patternable, optically transparent polymer to affix to the substrate a desired layout of fluidic conduits and compartments to confine fluid in one or several discrete compartments, thereby accommodating multiple samples on a given substrate.

[0041] The bead arrays may be prepared by providing a first planar electrode that is in substantially parallel to a second planar electrode (“sandwich” configuration) with the two electrodes being separated by a gap and containing a polarizable liquid medium, such as an electrolyte solution. The surface or the interior of the second planar electrode is patterned with the interfacial patterning method. The beads are introduced into the gap. When an AC voltage is applied to the gap, the beads form a random encoded array on the second electrode (e.g., “chip”). And, also using LEAPS, an array of beads may be formed on a light-sensitive electrode (“chip”). Preferably, the sandwich configuration described above is also used with a planar light sensitive electrode and another planar electrode. Once again, the two electrodes are separated by a gap and contain an electrolyte solution. The functionalized and encoded beads are introduced into the gap. Upon application of an AC voltage in combination with a light, the beads form an array on the light-sensitive electrode.

[0042] In certain embodiments, beads may be associated with a chemically or optically distinguishable characteristic. This may be provided, for example, by staining beads with sets of optically distinguishable tags, such as those containing one or more fluorophore or chromophore dyes spectrally distinguishable by excitation wavelength, emission wavelength, excited-state lifetime or emission intensity. The optically distinguishable tags made be used to stain beads in specified ratios, as disclosed, for example, in Fulwyler, U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,655 (Jan. 5, 1988). Staining may also be accomplished by swelling of particles in accordance with methods known to those skilled in the art, (Molday, Dreyer, Rembaum & Yen, J. Mol Biol 64, 75-88 (1975); L. Bangs, “Uniform latex Particles, Seragen Diagnostics, 1984). For example, up to twelve types of beads were encoded by swelling and bulk staining with two colors, each individually in four intensity levels, and mixed in four nominal molar ratios. Alternatively, the methods of combinatorial color encoding described in International Application No. PCT/US 98/10719, incorporated herein by reference, can be used to endow the bead arrays with optically distinguishable tags. In addition to chemical encoding, beads may also be rendered magnetic by the processes described in International Application No. WO 01/098765.

[0043] In addition to chemical encoding of the dyes, the beads having certain oligonucleotide primers may be spatially separated (“spatial encoding”), such that the location of the beads provide certain information as to the identity of the beads placed therein. Spatial encoding, for example, can be accomplished within a single fluid phase in the course of array assembly by invoking LEAPS to assemble planar bead arrays in any desired configuration in response to alternating electric fields and/or in accordance with patterns of light projected onto the substrate.

[0044] LEAPS creates lateral gradients in the impedance of the interface between silicon chip and solution to modulate the electrohydrodynamic forces that mediate array assembly. Electrical requirements are modest: low AC voltages of typically less than 10V_(PP) are applied across a fluid gap of typically 100 μm between two planar electrodes. This assembly process is rapid and it is optically programmable: arrays containing thousands of beads are formed within seconds under electric field. The formation of multiple subarrays, can also occur in multiple fluid phases maintained on a compartmentalized chip surface.

[0045] Subsequent to the formation of an array, the array may be immobilized. For example, the bead arrays may be immobilized, for example, by application of a DC voltage to produce random encoded arrays. The DC voltage, set to typically 5-7 V (for beads in the range of 2-6 μm and for a gap size of 100-150 μm) and applied for<30s in “reverse bias” configuration so that an n-doped silicon substrate would form the anode, causes the array to be compressed to an extent facilitating contact between adjacent beads within the array and simultaneously causes beads to be moved toward the region of high electric field in immediate proximity of the electrode surface. Once in sufficiently close proximity, beads are anchored by van der Waals forces mediating physical adsorption. This adsorption process is facilitated by providing on the bead surface a population of “tethers” extending from the bead surface; polylysine and streptavidin have been used for this purpose.

[0046] In certain embodiments, the particle arrays may be immobilized by chemical means, e.g, by forming a composite gel-particle film. In one exemplary method for forming such gel-composite particle films, a suspension of microparticles is provided which also contain all ingredients for subsequent in-situ gel formation, namely monomer, crosslinker and initiator. The particles are assembled into a planar assembly on a substrate by application of LEAPS, e.g., AC voltages of 1-20 V_(p-p) in a frequency range from 100's of hertz to several kilohertz are applied between the electrodes across the fluid gap. Following array assembly, and in the presence of the applied AC voltage, polymerization of the fluid phase is triggered by thermally heating the cell ˜40-45° C. using an infra-red (IR) lamp or photometrically using a mercury lamp source, to effectively entrap the particle array within a gel. Gels may be composed of a mixture of acrylamide and bisacrylamide of varying monomer concentrations from 20% to 5% (acrylamide:bisacrylamide=37.5:1, molar ratio), or any other low viscosity water soluble monomer or monomer mixture may be used as well. Chemically immobilized functionalized microparticle arrays prepared by this process may be used for a variety of bioassays, e.g., ligand receptor binding assays.

[0047] In one example, thermal hydrogels are formed using azodiisobutyramidine dihydrochloride as a thermal initiator at a low concentration ensuring that the overall ionic strength of the polymerization mixture falls in the range of ˜0.1 mM to 1.0 mM. The initiator used for the UV polymerization is Irgacure 2959® (2-Hydroxy-4′-hydroxyethoxy-2-methylpropiophenone, Ciba Geigy, Tarrytown, N.Y.). The initiator is added to the monomer to give a 1.5% by weight solution.

[0048] In certain embodiments, the particle arrays may be immobilized by mechanical means. For example, an array of microwells may be produced by standard semiconductor processing methods in the low impedance regions of the silicon substrate. The particle arrays may be formed using such structures by, e.g., utilizing LEAPS mediated hydrodynamic and ponderomotive forces are utilized to transport and accumulate particles on the hole arrays. The AC field is then switched off and particles are trapped into microwells and thus mechanically confined. Excess beads are removed leaving behind a geometrically ordered random bead array on the substrate surface.

[0049] Substrates (e.g., chips) can be placed in one or more enclosed compartment, permitting interconnection. Reactions can also be performed in an open compartment format similar to microtiter plates. Reagents may be pipetted on top of the chip by robotic liquid handling equipment, and multiple samples may be processed simultaneously. Such a format accommodates standard sample processing and liquid handling for existing microtiter plate format and integrates sample processing and array detection.

[0050] Encoded beads can also be assembled, but not in an array, on the substrate surface. For example, by spotting bead suspensions into multiple regions of the substrate and allowing beads to settle under gravity, assemblies of beads can be formed on the substrate. In contrast to the bead arrays formed by LEAPS, these assemblies generally assume disordered configurations of low-density or non-planar configurations involving stacking or clumping of beads thereby preventing imaging of affected beads. However, the combination of spatial and color encoding attained by spotting mixtures of chemically encoded beads into a multiplicity of discrete positions on the substrate still allows multiplexing.

[0051] In certain embodiments, a comparison of an assay with a decoded image of the array can be used to reveal chemically or physically distinguishable characteristics, and the elongation of probes. This comparison can be achieved by using, for example, an optical microscope with an imaging detector and computerized image capture and analysis equipment. The assay image of the array is taken to detect the optical signature that indicates the probe elongation. The decoded image may be taken to determine the chemically and/or physically distinguishable characteristics that uniquely identify the probe displayed on the bead surface. In this way, the identity of the probe on each particle in the array may be identified by a distinguishable characteristic.

[0052] Image analysis algorithms may be used in analyzing the data obtained from the decoding and the assay images. These algorithms may be used to obtain quantitative data for each bead within an array. The analysis software automatically locates bead centers using a bright-field image of the array as a template, groups beads according to type, assigns quantitative intensities to individual beads, rejects “blemishes” such as those produced by “matrix” materials of irregular shape in serum samples, analyzes background intensity statistics and evaluates the background-corrected mean intensities for all bead types along with the corresponding variances. Examples of such algorithms are set forth in International Application No. WO 01/098765.

[0053] The probe hybridization may be indicated by a change in the optical signature, e.g., of the beads associated with the probes. This can be done using labeling methods well known in the art, including direct and indirect labeling. In certain embodiments, fluorophore or chromophore dyes may be attached to one of the nucleotides added during the probe hybridization, such that the probe hybridization to its target changes the optical signature of beads (e.g., the fluorescent intensities change, thus providing changes in the optical signatures of the beads).

[0054] Described herein are methods and compositions to conduct accurate polymorphism analysis for highly polymorphic target regions. Analogous considerations pertain to designs, compositions and methods of multiplexing PCR reactions.

[0055] The density of polymorphic sites in highly polymorphic loci makes it likely that designated probes directed to selected polymorphic sites, when annealing to the target subsequence proximal to the designated polymorphic site, will overlap adjacent polymorphic sites. That is, an oligonucleotide probe, designed to interrogate the configuration of the target at one of the selected polymorphic sites, and constructed with sufficient length to ensure specificity and thermal stability in annealing to the correct target subsequence, will align with other nearby polymorphic sites. These interfering polymorphic sites may include the non-designated selected sites as well as non-selected sites in the target sequence.

[0056] The design of covering probe sets is described herein in connection with hybridization-mediated multiplexed analysis of polymorphisms in the scoring of multiple uncorrelated designated polymorphisms, as in the case of mutation analysis for CF carrier screening. In this instance, the covering set for the entire multiplicity of mutations contains multiple subsets, each subset being associated with one designated site. In the second instance, the covering set contains subsets constructed to minimize the number of probes in the set, as elaborated herein.

[0057] Arrays of bead-associated probes can be used in the hybridization-mediated analysis of a set of mutations within the context of a large set of non-designated mutations and polymorphisms in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene. Each of the designated mutations in the set is associated with the disease and must be independently scored. In the case of a point mutation, two encoded probes are provided to ensure alignment with the designated site, one probe complementary to the wild-type, the other to the mutated or polymorphic target sequence.

[0058] In certain embodiments, the identification of the specific target configuration encountered in the non-designated sites is of no interest so long as one of the sequences provided in the covering probe set matches the target sequence sufficiently closely—and thus matches the target sequence exactly to ensure hybridization. In such a case, all or some of the covering probes may be assigned the same code; in a preferred embodiment, such probes may be associated with the same solid support (“probe pooling”). Probe pooling reduces the number of distinguishable solid supports required to represent the requisite number of probes. In one particularly preferred embodiment, solid supports are provided in the form of a set or array of distinguishable microparticles which may be decoded in situ. Inclusion of additional probes in the covering set to permit identification of additional polymorphisms in the target region is a useful method to elucidate haplotypes for various populations.

[0059] Suitable probes may be designed to correspond to the known alleles within the CFTR gene locus. A number of polymorphisms and mutant alleles are known and available from literature and other sources.

[0060] Standard methods of temperature control are readily applied to set the operating temperature of, or to apply a preprogramed sequence of temperature changes to, single chips or to multichip carriers. When combined with the direct imaging of entire arrays of encoded beads as provided in the READ™ format of multiplexed analysis, the application of preprogrammed temperature cycles provides real-time on-chip amplification of elongation products. Given genomic, mitochondrial or other DNA, linear on-chip amplification eliminates the need for pre-assay DNA amplification such as PCR, thereby dramatically shortening the time required to complete the entire typing assay. Time-sensitive applications such as cadaver typing are thereby enabled. More importantly, this approach will eliminate the complexities of PCR multiplexing, a limiting step in many genetic screening and polymorphism analyses. In a preferred embodiment, a fluidic cartridge provides for sample and reagent injection, as well as temperature control.

[0061] The designs, compositions and methods described herein also pertain to the multiplexed amplification of nucleic acid samples. In a preferred embodiment, covering sets of PCR primers composed of priming and annealing subsequences are used for target amplification.

[0062] Described below is a series of steps for selecting an appropriate array of probes and targets for hybridization analysis.

[0063] TASK:

[0064] Identify (“select”) a set of probes, P, to perform one or more concurrent, “multiplexed” reactions permitting hybridization-mediated interrogation of nucleic acid sequences in order to determine the composition at each of a set of designated polymorphic sites, S={S_(l),Y,S_(N)} said sites being located on M< or =N nucleic acid strands T:={T_(l), Y, T_(M)} (“targets”).

[0065] Targets—The collection, T, of targets, {T_(i)=(m_(i), σ_(i)); 1< or =i< or =M}, is generated in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using PCR primers designed to place as many polymorphisms or mutations on each single target under the condition that the target length l_(i) not exceed a preset maximal length, l_(max), and wherein the i-th target, T_(i) of length l_(i) is further characterized by:

[0066] a multiplicity, m_(i),

[0067] giving the number of said designated polymorphisms (or mutations),

[0068] wherein Σ(i=1;i=M) m_(i)=N; and

[0069] an orientation, σ_(i), wherein

[0070] σ_(i)=+1 for a sense (“cis”) strand; or

[0071] σ_(i)=−1 for an anti-sense (“trans”) strand.

[0072] Probes—Mutation analysis preferably will involve the interrogation of each designated mutation site, S_(k), by hybridization of the corresponding target to at least two designated interrogation probes, P_(k) ^(N) and P_(k) ^(V), of which at least a first probe, P_(k) ^(N), has a sequence that is complementary to the normal (“wild-type”) composition, and of which at least a second probe, P_(k) ^(V), has a sequence that is complementary to a variant (“mutant”) composition. In the presence of polymorphisms or mutations at sites within the interrogated subsequence other than the designated sites, it generally will be desirable to provide “degenerate” probes matching the anticipated compositions at non-designated sites. The designation P_(k)=P_(k) (S_(k)) hereinafter is understood to refer to all probes directed to the k-th designated site such that P_(k) is characterized by a number of probes, each of these probes having an orientation, σ_(ik), opposite to that of the cognate target.

[0073] Specifically, probes are to be selected, and probe-target reactions are to be configured in a manner involving one or more sets of reactions, each of these reactions being performed in a separate container, in such a way as to minimize the interaction of any target subsequence containing a designated polymorphic site or mutation, S_(k), with any but its corresponding designated probes, P_(k).

[0074] Strategy—While not necessarily generating an optimal configuration, the following “heuristic” strategy provides the basis for a systematic process of assay optimization as a function of critical parameters including a maximal acceptable degree of similarity between two sequences, expressed in terms of a homology score, as well as a maximal acceptable level of “cross-hybridization”, manifesting itself in magnitude of “off-diagonal” elements, P_(i) T_(j) of a co-affinity matrix (see U.S. application Ser. No. 10/204,799, entitled: “Multianalyte molecular analysis using application-specific random particle arrays”) showing the degree of interaction between all probes and all targets in a given group or set.

[0075] To minimize cross-hybridization between any given target and probes directed to other targets, distribute targets and their corresponding probes—into a number, C, of containers in order to perform C separate “multiplexed” hybridization reactions, said number being chosen to be as small as possible given a preset maximal acceptable level of sequence similarity (“maximal homology score”) between targets in the same container.

[0076] To minimize cross-hybridization between any given target and probes directed to other targets in the same container, switch the orientation of such other targets and that of their corresponding probes, allowing for the possible reassignment of any target to another, possibly new container.

[0077] Certain targets may have more than one region, each having a designated probe in the array which hybridizes with it. To minimize cross-hybridization as well as competitive hybridization within the same container in such case, reduce the multiplicity of such an “offending” target by redesigning the PCR primer sets in order to produce two (or more) smaller targets to replace the original single target, each of the new targets having a lower multiplicity of hybridization regions than the original.

[0078] Implementation—The pseudocode below provides a description of the heuristic process of configuring the reaction so as to minimize cross-hybridization. I - Assign targets - and cognate probes - to c sets (“Containers”) c = 0; DO {   REFSEQ = SelectTarget(T); /*  randomly pick a target sequence from given collection, T*/   ShrinkCollection (T, 1);   /*  remove  selected target from collection */   S = L(c);   InitializeList (L(g), REFSEQ);   /* place selected target into    new    set (“group”)implemented in the form of a list, S */   AlignTargets (REFSEQ, T, HScores); /* align remaining targets to REFSEQ   by pairwise alignment   or multiple sequence   alignment;  return   homology scores */   SortTargets (HScores, T);     /* rank target seq's in the order of increasing   homology score with   respect to REFSEQ;   first entry least similar,   last entry most similar   to REFSEQ */   t = AssignTargets (maxHSCORE, S,, T); /*  remove targets from collection  in the order of increasing homology scores up to maxHScore and place them into the list, starting at top; return number of targets assigned to the list, S */   ShrinkCollection (T, t);   /*  remove t selected targets from collection */   c++; } WHILE ( T not EMPTY);

[0079] Optionally, one or more lists may be pruned should they contain more than an acceptable number of targets (for example, if it is determined, based on too many targets in a list, that maxHScore should be lowered) by removing targets from the bottom of one or more of the lists and placing them back into the collection T. II - Refine group configuration FOR ( i=0; i<c; i++) /*examine each group in turn */ {   S = L(i); /* List S holds targets in current group */   PofS = SelectProbes (P, S); /* select from P all probes directed to targets in current list */ /* each probe is designed to match at least one target - this is referred to as the probe cognate for that target; NOTE: refers to diagonal elements in co-affinity matrix */   WHILE (S not EMPTY)   {     T = PopTarget (S);     PerformProbeTargetRxn (PofS, T) /* place T in contact with all selected probes, preferably arranged in a probe array */     FOR (each probe, P, in PofS)     {       I = DetermineInteractionStrength (P, T); /* eliminate unacceptably large off-diagonal element in co-affinity matrix*/       IF( (P not cognate to T) AND (I > maxI) )       {         FlipOrientation (P); /* flip probe orientation */         FlipOrientation (TcP);         /* flip orientation of target cognate to P */       }     } /*  check  “flipped” targets in list S*/     flippedT = PopTarget (S);     PerformProbeTargetRxn (PofS, flippedT) /* place T in contact with all selected probes, preferably arranged in a probe array */     FOR (each probe, P, in PofS)     {       I = DetermineInteractionStrength (P, flippedT); /* eliminate unacceptably large off- diagonal element in co- affinity matrix*/       IF( (P not cognate to flippedT) AND (I > maxI) )       {         PushTarget (flippedT, TempList); /* Place flipped target into temporary list */       }     }   } } S = TempList; /* List S holds flipped targets in temp list */ /* Check targets in temp list */ WHILE (S not EMPTY) {   T = PopTarget (S);   FOR (j=0; j <c; j++)   {     IF( L(j) != L(T) ) /* Check T against probes in all existing lists with exception of those in T's original list */     {       L = L(j);       PofL = SelectProbesFrom List (L); /* select probes in   Group L */       PerformProbeTargetRxn (PofL, T) /* place T in contact with all selected probes, preferably arranged in a probe array */       FOR (each probe, P, in PofL)       {         I = DetermineInteractionStrength (P, T); /* eliminate unacceptably large off-diagonal element in co-affinity matrix*/         IF( (P not cognate to T) AND (I > maxI) )         {           FlipOrientation (T)); /* flip target orientation back to original */           FlipOrientation (PcT); /* flip orientation of p r o b e cognate to target T */           PushTarget(T, NewList); /* init new group */         }       }     }   } }         FlipOrientation (P); /* flip probe orientation */         FlipOrientation (TcP);         /* flip orientation of target cognate to P */

EXAMPLE I CFTR Assay

[0080] Genomic DNA extracted from several patients was amplified with corresponding primers in a multiplex PCR (mPCR) reaction. The PCR conditions and reagent compositions were as follows:

[0081] PRIMER DESIGN: One of the primers (sense or antisense, depending on design considerations, discussed below) was modified with a label (such as, Cy3, CyS and Cy5.5) at the 5′ end and the corresponding primer for the complementary sequence had a phosphate group added at the 5′ end, so that the amplicon could be digested by λ exonuclease during post-PCR processing of the target (see below). Hybridization was detected by detection of the dyes (Cy3, Cy5 or Cy5.5) in the hybridized product. Multiplex PCR (mPCR) was performed in two groups with the following primers (Tables I and II), and with the reagents and under the conditions listed below. The exon number where the mutation is located appears below in the left-had column of Tables I and II. TABLE I Artificial sequence artificial primer mPCR Group I Primers: (“Cy” denotes a dye label, and “P” denotes a phosphate modification, at the 5′ end of the primer) EX-5-1-Cy GTC AAG CCG TGT SEQ ID NO.: 1 TCT A GAT EX-5-2-P GTT GTA TAA TTT SEQ ID NO.: 2 ATA ACA ATA GT EX-7-1-P AC TTC AAT AGC SEQ ID NO.: 3 TCA GCC TTC EX-7-2-Cy TAT GGT ACA TTA SEQ ID NO.: 4 CCT GTA TTT TG EX-9-1-P TGG TGA CAG CCT SEQ ID NO.: 5 CTT CTT EX-9-2-Cy GAA CTA CCT TGC SEQ ID NO.: 6 CTG CTC CA EX-12-1-P TCT CCT TTT GGA SEQ ID NO.: 7 TAC CTA GAT EX-12-2-Cy TGA GCA TTA TAA SEQ ID NO.: 8 GTA AGG TAT EX-13-1-P AGG TAG CAG CTA SEQ ID NO.: 9 TTT TTA TGG EX-13-2-Cy ATC TGG TAC TAA SEQ ID NO.: 10 GGA CAG EX-14B-1-P TCT TTG GTT GTG SEQ ID NO.: 11 CTG TGG CT EX-14B-2-Cy ACA ATA CAT ACA SEQ ID NO.: 12 AAC ATA GT EX16A-1P CTT CTG CTT ACC SEQ ID NO.: 13 ATA TTT GAC EX16A-2-Cy TAAT ACA GAC ATA SEQ ID NO.: 14 CTT AAC G EX-18-1-P GG AGA AGG AGA SEQ ID NO.: 15 AGG AAG AG T EX18-2-Cy ATC TAT GAG AAG SEQ ID NO.: 16 GAA AGA AGA Ex-19-1-Cy GGC CAA ATG ACT SEQ ID NO.: 17 GTC AAA GA Ex-19-2-P TGC TTC AGG CTA SEQ ID NO.: 18 CTG GGA TT

[0082] TABLE II mPCR Group II Primers: Ex-3-1-Cy C GGC GAT GTT TTT SEQ ID NO.: 19 TCT GGA G Ex-3-2-P T ACA AAT GAG ATC SEQ ID NO.: 20 CTT ACC C Ex-4-1-P AGC TTC CTA TGA SEQ ID NO.: 21 CCC GGA TA Ex-4-2-Cy TGT GAT GAA GGC SEQ ID NO.: 22 CAA AAA TG EX-10-1-P TGT TCT CAG TTT SEQ ID NO.: 23 TCC TGG AT EX-10-2-Cy CTC TTC TAG TTG SEQ ID NO.: 24 GCA TGC TT Ex-11-1-P CAG ATT GAG CAT SEQ ID NO.: 25 ACT AAA AG EX11-2-Cy AC ATG AAT GAC SEQ ID NO.: 26 ATT TAC AGC Int-19-1-Cy AA TCA TTG AGT SEQ ID NO.: 27 GGG TAT AAG C Int-19-2-P CCT CCT CCC TGA SEQ ID NO.: 28 GAA TGT TGG EX-20-1-P C TGG ATC AGG GAA SEQ ID NO.: 29 GA GAA GG EX20-2-Cy TCC TTT TGC TCA SEQ ID NO.: 30 CCT GTG GT EX21-1-P TGA TGG TAA GTA SEQ ID NO.: 31 CAT GGG TG EX21-2-Cy CAA AAG TAC CTG SEQ ID NO.: 32 TTG CTC CA

[0083] PCR Master Mix Composition

[0084] For 20 μl reaction/sample: Components Volume (μl) 10X PCR buffer 2.0 25 mM MgCl₂ 1.4 dNTPs (2.5 mM) 4.0 Primer mix (Multiplex 10x) 3.0 Taq DNA polymerase 0.6 ddH2O 3.0 DNA 6.0 Total 20

[0085] PCR Cycling Conditions Hot Start 94° C. 15 min 94° C. 30 sec, 60% ramp 60° C. 30 sec, 50% ramp {close oversize bracket} 30 cycles 72° C. 50 sec, 35% ramp 72° C.  8 min

[0086] Amplifications were performed using a Perkin Elmer 9700 thermal cycler. Optimal primer concentrations were determined for each primer pair. The reaction volume can be adjusted according to experimental need.

[0087] Post PCR processing: Following amplification, PCR products were purified using either a QIAquick PCR purification kit (QIAGEN, Cat # 28104), or by Exonuclease 1 treatment (Amersham). For the latter procedure: an aliquot of 8 μl of PCR product was added in a clean tube with 2.5 μl of Exonuclease 1 (Amersham), incubated at 37° C. for 15 minutes and denatured at 80° C. for 15 min. Thereafter, single stranded DNA was generated as follows:

[0088] PCR reaction products were incubated with 2.5 units of λ exonuclease in 1×buffer at 37° C. for 20 min, followed by enzyme inactivation by heating to 75° C. for 10 min. Under these conditions, the enzyme digests one strand of duplex DNA from the 5′-phosphorylated end and releases 5′-phosphomononucleotides (J. W. Little, et al., 1967). Single-stranded targets also can be produced by other methods known in the art, although heating the PCR products to generate single stranded DNA, is undesirable. The single stranded DNA can be used directly in the assay.

[0089] ON CHIP Hybridization—The CFTR gene sequence from Genebank (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) was used to model the wild-type. The 52 probes were divided into two groups on the basis of their sequence homologies, in accordance with the “heuristic” probe selection algorithm, i.e., in such a way as to avoid overlapping homologies among different probes to the extent possible. The mutations included in each group were selected so as to minimize overlap between probe sequences in any group and thereby to minimize intra-group cross-hybridization under multiplex assay conditions.

[0090] Probe sequences were designed by PRIMER 3.0 software (see http://www.genome.wi.mit.edu incorporated herein by reference), seeking to include the following characteristics in each probe:

[0091] (b) a mismatch in the center of the probe;

[0092] (c) probe length 16-21 bases;

[0093] (d) low self compatibility;

[0094] (e) 30-60% GC content; and

[0095] (f) no more than three consecutive identical bases.

[0096] Each probe sequence was aligned with its complementary exon sequence. See http ://mbcr.bcm.tmc.edu;http://searchlauncher.bcm.tmc.edu/seq-search/alignment.html, incorporated herein by reference. The percent homology between each probe and non-desired target sequences (i.e., those sequences representing mutations other than those which the probe is intended to hybridize with) was calculated, and probes were selected such that the percent homology between probes for each mutation and non-desired target sequences on the same array was less than 50%.

[0097] Probe selection was further refined based on the heuristic selection algorithm, set forth above. Probe selection was also refined in part on experimental selection, and in part on consideration that certain mismatched base pairs, particularly, G-T, will tend to be stable. In instances where probes could hybridize incorrectly with mismatches forming a G-T pairing, and in certain other instances, the anti-sense probes were used, rather than the sense probes, if such stable mismatches could be avoided, or if it was experimentally demonstrated that incorrect hybridization was eliminated by using the antisense probe. The cases where antisense probes were used are indicated in the Probe Sequence Table III below.

[0098] Wild type and mutant probes for 26 CF mutations were synthesized with either 5′ Biotin-TEG or amine modification at the 5′ end (Integrated DNA Technologies). Different bead chemistry can use a different 5′ end, such that a biotin modification is coupled to beads coated with neutravidin, and an amine modification is coupled to beads coated with BSA. Probes were dissolved in 1×TE or dsH₂O at a concentration of 100 μM. An aliquot of 100 μl of 1% bead solids, for each type of bead, was washed three times with 500 μl of TBS-1 (1×TE, 0.5 M NaCl2). Probes were added to 500 μl bead suspension and incubated at room temperature for 45-60 minutes on a roller. Beads were washed once with wash solution TBS-T (1×TE, 0.15 M NaCl₂, 0.05% Tween 20) or PBS-T (Phosphate buffered saline, Tween 20) and twice with TBS-2 (1×TE, 0.15 M NaCl₂) and resuspended in 1×TBS-2. Beads were assembled on the surface of chips as described earlier. The probes were also divided into two groups and assembled on two separate chips. A third group was assembled for reflex test including 5T/7T/9T polymorphisms. Negative and positive controls were also included on the chip surface, and assay signal was normalized using these controls. For negative controls, beads were coupled with a 10-mer strand of dCTP (Oligo-C) and immobilized on the chip surface. For a positive control signal, the human β Actin sequence was used. The signal from Oligo-C was used as the background to subtract the noise level and β Actin was used to normalize the data. TABLE IIIA Hybridization Group I: Bead cluster Mutation 1 OLIGO-C(control) 2 BA 3 OligoC-1 4 G85E-WT 5 G85E-M 6 621 + 1G > T-WT 7 621 + 1G > T-M 8 R117H-WT 9 R117H-M 10 I148-WT 11 I148-M 12 A455E-WT 13 A455E-M 14 508-WT 15 OLIGOC-2 16 F508 17 I507 18 G542-WT 19 G542-M 20 G551D-WT 21 G551D-M 22 R560-WT 23 R560-M 24 R553X-WT 25 R553X-M 26 OLIGOC-3 27 1717 − 1G > A-WT 28 1717 − 1G > A-M 29 3849 + 10kb-WT 30 3849 + 10kb-M 31 W1282X-WT 32 OLIGOC-4 33 W1282X-M 34 N1303K-WT 35 N1303K-M 36 OLIGOC-5

[0099] TABLE IIIB Hybridization Group II Bead Cluster Mutation 1 BA 2 1898 + 5G-WT 3 OLIGO-C(control) 4 1898 + 5G-M 5 OLIGO-C-1 6 R334W-WT 7 R334W-M 8 1898 + 1G > A-WT 9 1898 + 1G > A-WT 10 1078delT-M 11 OLIGO-C-2 12 D1152-WT 13 D1152-M 14 R347P-WT 15 R347P-M 16 711 + 1G > T-WT 17 711 + 1G > T-M 18 3659delC-WT 19 3659delC-M 20 OLIGO-C-3 21 R1162X-WT 22 R1162X-M 23 2789 + 5G-WT 24 2789 + 5G-M 25 3120 + 1G > A-WT 26 3120 + 1G > A-WT 27 OLIGO-C-4 28 A455E-WT 29 A455E-M 30 2184delA-WT 31 2184delA-M 32 1078delT-WT 33 OLIGO-C-5

[0100] TABLE IIIC Hybridization Group III (total 6 groups) Cluster # Mutation 1 β Actin 1 Oligo C 2 5T 3 7T 4 9T

[0101] Probe sequences for detecting each mutation were as follows (probes to sense or antisense sequences were selected as described above): TABLE IV NORMAL/VARIANT SEQUENCE CAPTURE PROBES EX-3 AT GTT CTA TGG AAT SEQ ID NO.: 33 CTT TT TA G85E AT GTT CTA TGA AAT SEQ ID NO.: 34 CTT TT TA EX-4 TA TAA GAA GGT AAT SEQ ID NO.: 35 ACT TC CT 621-M TA TAA GAA GTT AAT SEQ ID NO.: 36 ACT TC CT INT-4 CC TCA TCA CAT TGG SEQ ID NO.: 37 AAT GC AG I148T CC TCA TCA CAC TGG SEQ ID NO.: 38 AAT GC AG EX-4 CAA GGA GGA ACG CTC SEQ ID NO.: 39 TAT CG C R117H CAA GGA GGA ACA CTC SEQ ID NO.: 40 TAT CG C EX-5 ATG GGT ACA TAC TTC SEQ ID NO.: 41 ATC AA A 711+1G ATG GGT ACA TAA TTC SEQ ID NO.: 42 ATC AA A EX-7 GAA TAT TTT CCG GAG SEQ ID NO.: 43 GAT GAT 334-M GAA TAT TTT CCA GAG SEQ ID NO.: 44 GAT GAT EX-7 CAT TGT TCT GCG CAT SEQ ID NO.: 45 GGC GGT 347-M CAT TGT TCT GCC CAT SEQ ID NO.: 46 GGC GGT EX-7 CT CAG GGT TCT TTG SEQ ID NO.: 47 TGG TG TT 1078DEL T CT CAG GGT TC TTG SEQ ID NO.: 48 TGG TG TT EX-9 ACA GTT GTT GGC GGT SEQ ID NO.: 49 TGC TGG A455E ACA GTT GTT GGA GGT SEQ ID NO.: 50 TGC TGG EX-10 AAA GAA AAT ATC ATC SEQ ID NO.: 51 TTT GGT F508 AAA GAA AAT ATC ATT SEQ ID NO.: 52 GGT GT I507 AAA GAA AAT ATC TTT SEQ ID NO.: 53 GGT GT EX-12 ATA TTT GAA AGG TAT SEQ ID NO.: 54 GTT CT TT 1898+1 ATA TTT GAA AGA TAT SEQ ID NO.: 55 GTT CT TT Ex-13 GAA ACA AAA AAA CAA SEQ ID NO.: 56 TCT TTT 2184 delA GAA ACA AAA AA CAA SEQ ID NO.: 57 TCT TTT EX-14B TTG GAA AGT GAG TAT SEQ ID NO.: 58 TCC ATG 2789+5G TTG GAA AGT GAA TAT SEQ ID NO.: 59 TCC ATG EX-16 ACT TCA TCC AGA TAT SEQ ID NO.: 60 GTA AAA 31120+1G/A ACT TCA TCC AGG TAT SEQ ID NO.: 61 GTA AAA Ex-11 TAT AGT TCT TGG AGA SEQ ID NO.: 62 AGG TGG G542X TAT AGT TCT TTG AGA SEQ ID NO.: 63 AGG TGG EX-11 TCT TTA GCA AGG TGA SEQ ID NO.: 64 ATA ACT R560 TCT TTA GCA ACG TGA SEQ ID NO.: 65 ATA ACT EX-11-553/551 GAG TGG AGG TCA ACG SEQ ID NO.: 66 AGC AAG G551D GAG TGG AGA TCA ACG SEQ ID NO.: 67 AGC AAG R553X GTG GAG GTC AAT GAG SEQ ID NO.: 68 CAA GA EX-11 TGG TAA TAG GAC ATC SEQ ID NO.: 69 TCC AAG 1717-M TGG TAA TAA GAC ATC SEQ ID NO.: 70 TCC AAG EX-18 ACT CCA GCA TAG ATG SEQ ID NO.: 71 TGG ATA 1152X ACT CCA GCA TAC ATG SEQ ID NO.: 72 TGG ATA EX-19-SENSE GAA CTG TGA GCC GAG SEQ ID NO.: 73 TCT TTA R1162X GAA CTG TGA GCT GAG SEQ ID NO.: 74 TCT TTA EX-19 TGG TTG ACT TGG TAG SEQ ID NO.: 75 GTT TAC 3659 TGG TTG ACT TG TAG SEQ ID NO.: 76 GTT TAC INT-19 T TAA AAT GGT GAG SEQ ID NO.: 77 TAA GA CAC 3849 T TAA AAT GGC GAG SEQ ID NO.: 78 TAA GA CAC EX-20 TGC AAC AGT GGA GGA SEQ ID NO.: 79 AAG CCT 1282X TGC AAC AGT GAA GGA SEQ ID NO.: 80 AAG CCT EX-21 A TTT AGA AAA AAC SEQ ID NO.: 81 TTG GAT CC N1303K A TTT AGA AAA AAG SEQ ID NO.: 82 TTG GAT CC β A-PROBE AG GAG TCC ATG CCC SEQ ID NO.: 83 AG

[0102] The hybridization buffer has been optimized for use in uniplex and/or multiplex hybridization assays and is composed of (final concentrations): 1.125 M Tetramethyl-Ammonium Chloride (TMAC), 18.75 mM Tris-HCL (pH 8.0), 0.75 mM EDTA (pH 8.0) and 0.0375% SDS. Ten μl of hybridization mixture containing buffer and ssDNA was added on the chip surface and incubated at 55° C. for 15 minutes. This is a shorter hybridization time than the several hours normally used, because longer hybridization times tend to generate uncontrolled excess hybridization. The chip was washed with 1×TMAC buffer three times, covered with a clean cover slip and analyzed using a BAS imaging system. Images are analyzed to determine the identity of each of the probes. The results are shown below in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0103] Each allele of a given mutation was analyzed as follows. First, the signal from the hybridized alleles was corrected as follows:

[0104] (i) Signal for allele A (labeled amplicon)=Raw signal from labeled amplicon-hybrid minus raw counts from negative (background) control

[0105] (ii) Signal for allele B (unlabeled amplicon)=Raw signal from unlabeled amplicon-hybrid minus raw counts from negative (background) control

[0106] Then an allelic ratio was calculated:

[0107] Allelic ratio=Signal for allele A/Signal for allele B

[0108] When the value of (i) was less than or equal to zero, it was adjusted to 0.01 to avoid the generation of negative values. Allelic ratios of>2 were scored as homozygous for allele A (indicating mutant/polymorph), while an allelic ratio of<0.5 was scored as homozygous for allele B (wild type). An allelic ratio of 0.8 to 1.2 was scored as heterozygous. Values which fell in between these thresholds were considered ambiguous and the assay was repeated.

EXAMPLE II Screening of Multiple Patient Samples—Side-by-Side Comparison of hMAP with Dot Blot Analysis

[0109] A number of patient samples were obtained and amplified for simultaneous screening. The method of amplification and primer design was as described above. After amplification, analysis techniques on samples were compared for 26 CFTR mutations. A set was analyzed using conventional dot blot hybridization methods, and the same set was analyzed with the methods and reagents of the invention. The results for each patient sample were compiled and both results were compared. There was 100% concordance with the two methods of detection. The number of samples identified as positives for each mutation are listed in Table V. TABLE V Comparison of Testing of Samples Samples tested by dot-blot and methods described herein Mutations # Positives # Negatives Total G85E 11 11 22 G85E/621 + 1G 8 8 621 + 1G > T 11 13 24 621 + 1G > T/delF508 2 2 R117H 19 19 R117H/delF508 1 1 I148T 48 48 delF508 58 14 72 I507 11 11 delF508/R560 1 1 G542X 44 11 55 G551D 11 11 R553X 15 15 1717 − 1G > A 14 14 R560T 9 9 3849 + 10kbC > T 25 14 39 W1282X 53 13 66 N1303K 31 15 46 mPCR-WT 87 87 711 + 1G > T 19 9 28 711 + 1G > T/621 + 1G 1 1 R334W 19 11 30 R347P 13 13 1078delT 11 11 A455E 18 11 29 1898 + 1G > A 24 10 34 2184delA 10 10 20 2789 + 5G > A 20 10 30 3120 + 1g > A 18 10 28 R1162X 13 8 21 3569delC 8 8 D1152 47 9 56 mPCR-WT 80 80 TOTAL 939

[0110] It should be understood that the terms, expressions and examples described herein are exemplary only and not limiting and that processes and methods can be performed in any order, unless the sequence of steps is specified. The invention is defined only in the claims which follow and includes all equivalents of the claims.

1 83 1 19 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 1 gtcaagccgt gttctagat 19 2 23 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 2 gttgtataat ttataacaat agt 23 3 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 3 acttcaatag ctcagccttc 20 4 23 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 4 tatggtacat tacctgtatt ttg 23 5 18 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 5 tggtgacagc ctcttctt 18 6 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 6 gaactacctt gcctgctcca 20 7 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 7 tctccttttg gatacctaga t 21 8 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 8 tgagcattat aagtaaggta t 21 9 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 9 aggtagcagc tatttttatg g 21 10 18 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 10 atctggtact aaggacag 18 11 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 11 tctttggttg tgctgtggct 20 12 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 12 acaatacata caaacatagt 20 13 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 13 cttctgctta ccatatttga c 21 14 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 14 taatacagac atacttaacg 20 15 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 15 ggagaaggag aaggaagagt 20 16 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 16 atctatgaga aggaaagaag a 21 17 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 17 ggccaaatga ctgtcaaaga 20 18 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 18 tgcttcaggc tactgggatt 20 19 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 19 cggcgatgtt ttttctggag 20 20 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 20 tacaaatgag atccttaccc 20 21 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 21 agcttcctat gacccggata 20 22 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 22 tgtgatgaag gccaaaaatg 20 23 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 23 tgttctcagt tttcctggat 20 24 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 24 ctcttctagt tggcatgctt 20 25 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 25 cagattgagc atactaaaag 20 26 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 26 acatgaatga catttacagc 20 27 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 27 aatcattcag tgggtataag c 21 28 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 28 cctcctccct gagaatgttg g 21 29 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 29 ctggatcagg gaagagaagg 20 30 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 30 tccttttgct cacctgtggt 20 31 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 31 tgatggtaag tacatgggtg 20 32 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial primer 32 caaaagtacc tgttgctcca 20 33 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 33 atgttctatg gaatcttttt a 21 34 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 34 atgttctatg aaatcttttt a 21 35 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 35 tataagaagg taatacttcc t 21 36 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 36 tataagaagt taatacttcc t 21 37 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 37 cctcatcaca ttggaatgca g 21 38 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 38 cctcatcaca ctggaatgca g 21 39 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 39 caaggaggaa cgctctatcg c 21 40 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 40 caaggaggaa cactctatcg c 21 41 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 41 atgggtacat acttcatcaa a 21 42 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 42 atgggtacat aattcatcaa a 21 43 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 43 gaatattttc cggaggatga t 21 44 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 44 gaatattttc cagaggatga t 21 45 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 45 cattgttctg cgcatggcgg t 21 46 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 46 cattgttctg cccatggcgg t 21 47 21 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 47 ctcagggttc tttgtggtgt t 21 48 20 DNA Artificial Sequence artificial probe 48 ctcagggttc ttgtggtgtt 20 49 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 49 acagttgttg gcggttgctg g 21 50 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 50 acagttgttg gaggttgctg g 21 51 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 51 aaagaaaata tcatctttgg t 21 52 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 52 aaagaaaata tcattggtgt 20 53 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 53 aaagaaaata tctttggtgt 20 54 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 54 atatttgaaa ggtatgttct tt 22 55 22 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 55 atatttgaaa gatatgttct tt 22 56 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 56 gaaacaaaaa aacaatcttt t 21 57 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 57 gaaacaaaaa acaatctttt 20 58 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 58 ttggaaagtg agtattccat g 21 59 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 59 ttggaaagtg aatattccat g 21 60 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 60 acttcatcca gatatgtaaa a 21 61 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 61 acttcatcca ggtatgtaaa a 21 62 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 62 tatagttctt ggagaaggtg g 21 63 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 63 tatagttctt tgagaaggtg g 21 64 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 64 tctttagcaa ggtgaataac t 21 65 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 65 tctttagcaa cgtgaataac t 21 66 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 66 gagtggaggt caacgagcaa g 21 67 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 67 gagtggagat caacgagcaa g 21 68 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 68 gtggaggtca atgagcaaga 20 69 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 69 tggtaatagg acatctccaa g 21 70 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 70 tggtaataag acatctccaa g 21 71 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 71 actccagcat agatgtggat a 21 72 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 72 actccagcat acatgtggat a 21 73 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 73 gaactgtgag ccgagtcttt a 21 74 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 74 gaactgtgag ctgagtcttt a 21 75 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 75 tggttgactt ggtaggttta c 21 76 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 76 tggttgactt gtaggtttac 20 77 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 77 ttaaaatggt gagtaagaca c 21 78 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 78 ttaaaatggc gagtaagaca c 21 79 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 79 tgcaacagtg gaggaaagcc t 21 80 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 80 tgcaacagtg aaggaaagcc t 21 81 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 81 atttagaaaa aacttggatc c 21 82 21 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 82 atttagaaaa aagttggatc c 21 83 16 DNA Artificial Sequence Artificial Probe 83 aggactccat gcccag 16 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of optimizing hybridization analysis for detecting known genetic mutations and polymorphisms, wherein the following steps are initially performed: a) providing a set of oligonucleotide primer pairs, each pair capable of annealing with complementary polynucleotide strands to delineate a region of the corresponding target which includes at least one designated mutation or polymorphic site; b) contacting said set of oligonucleotide primer pairs with said targets under conditions allowing formation of amplicon pairs, each amplicon pair comprising a designated amplicon sense strand corresponding to either a target sense or antisense strand and an amplicon antisense strand corresponding to the other target strand (either a sense or antisense target stand); c) selecting two groups of encoded probes wherein probes having different codes have different nucleotide sequences, sense probes selected such that each sense probe is complementary, in whole or in substantial part, to an amplicon antisense strand or a subsequence thereof (referred to as a “complementary amplicon antisense strand” and other antisense amplicons referred to as “non-designated amplicons”), and antisense probes selected such that each antisense probe is complementary, in whole or in substantial part, to an amplicon sense strand or a subsequence thereof (referred to as a “complementary amplicon sense strand” and other sense amplicons referred to as “non-designated amplicons”); and wherein the method comprises: reducing cross-hybridization between probes and non-designated amplicons by distributing sense probes and complementary amplicon antisense strands into more than one different containers so as to perform separate hybridization reactions in different containers, said number of containers being as small as possible while providing that the sequence similarity between amplicons (and probes) in the same container not exceed a preset acceptance level.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the polynucleotide is an mRNA, a cDNA or a double-stranded polynucleotide, including DNA.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein probes having different sequences are encoded by associating probes to carriers, including beads, said carriers having different optical signatures.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the encoding is with color.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein one primer in a primer pair is labeled at the 5′ end with a label and the other primer in the primer pair has a phosphate modification at the 5′ end.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the amplicon incorporating said phosphate modified primer is digested.
 7. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the hybridization of amplicons and probes is determined by detecting signals from the labels associated with amplicons.
 8. A method of optimizing hybridization analysis for detecting known genetic mutations and polymorphisms, wherein the following steps are initially performed: a) providing a set of oligonucleotide primer pairs, each pair capable of annealing with complementary polynucleotide strands to delineate a region of the corresponding target which includes at least one designated mutation or polymorphic site; b) contacting said set of oligonucleotide primer pairs with said targets under conditions allowing formation of amplicon pairs, each amplicon pair comprising a designated amplicon sense strand corresponding to either a target sense or antisense strand and an amplicon antisense strand corresponding to the other target strand (either a sense or antisense target stand); c) selecting two groups of encoded probes wherein probes having different codes have different nucleotide sequences, sense probes selected such that each sense probe is complementary, in whole or in substantial part, to an amplicon antisense strand or a subsequence thereof (referred to as a “complementary amplicon antisense strand” and other antisense amplicons referred to as “non-designated amplicons”), and antisense probes selected such that each antisense probe is complementary, in whole or in substantial part, to an amplicon sense strand or a subsequence thereof (referred to as a “complementary amplicon sense strand” and other sense amplicons referred to as “non-designated amplicons”); and wherein the method comprises: maintaining the degree of sequence similarity and cross-hybridization between probes and non-designated amplicons below a preset acceptance level, by substituting one or more antisense probes for sense probes (and substituting the complementary amplicon sense strands for amplicon antisense strands).
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the substituted antisense probes are complementary, in whole or in substantial part, to the substituted sense probes.
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein the polynucleotide is an mRNA, a cDNA or a double-stranded polynucleotide, including DNA.
 11. The method of claim 8 wherein probes having different sequences are encoded by associating probes to carriers, including beads, said carriers having different optical signatures.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the encoding is with color.
 13. The method of claim 8 wherein one primer in a primer pair is labeled at the 5′ end with a label and the other primer in the primer pair has a phosphate modification at the 5′ end.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the amplicon incorporating said phosphate modified primer is digested.
 15. The method of claim 8 wherein the hybridization of amplicons and probes is determined by detecting signals from the labels associated with amplicons.
 16. A method of optimizing hybridization analysis for detecting known genetic mutations and polymorphisms, comprising the following: a) providing a set of oligonucleotide primer pairs, each pair capable of annealing with complementary polynucleotide strands to delineate a region of the corresponding target which includes at least one designated mutation or polymorphic site; b) contacting said set of oligonucleotide primer pairs with said targets under conditions allowing formation of amplicon pairs, each amplicon pair comprising a designated amplicon sense strand corresponding to either a target sense or antisense strand and an amplicon antisense strand corresponding to the other target strand (either a sense or antisense target stand), and wherein, in order to maintain the degree of sequence similarity and cross-hybridization with partially complementary non-designated probes to below a preset acceptance level, the number of regions in an amplicon designated for hybridization with probes is controlled.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the number of regions in an amplicon designated for hybridization with probes is determined, and then amplicons with fewer such regions are generated in a subsequent step.
 18. A method of designing a probe array for use in hybridization analysis for detecting genetic mutations and polymorphisms, wherein the following steps are initially performed: a) providing a set of oligonucleotide primer pairs, each pair capable of annealing with complementary polynucleotide strands to delineate a region of the corresponding target which includes at least one designated mutation or polymorphic site; b) contacting said set of oligonucleotide primer pairs with said targets under conditions allowing formation of amplicon pairs, each amplicon pair comprising a designated amplicon sense strand corresponding to either a target sense or antisense strand and an amplicon antisense strand corresponding to the other target strand (either a sense or antisense target stand); c) selecting two groups of encoded probes wherein probes having different codes have different nucleotide sequences, sense probes selected such that each sense probe is complementary, in whole or in substantial part, to an amplicon antisense strand or a subsequence thereof (referred to as a “complementary amplicon antisense strand” and other antisense amplicons referred to as “non-designated amplicons”), and antisense probes selected such that each antisense probe is complementary, in whole or in substantial part, to an amplicon sense strand or a subsequence thereof (referred to as a “complementary amplicon sense strand” and other sense amplicons referred to as “non-designated amplicons”); and wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) examining the degree of homology between individual sense probes, or between individual amplicon sense strands; b) dividing members of the sense probes into one or more probe sets, and dividing the complementary amplicon sense strands into corresponding sets, said division performed so as to maintain the degree of sequence similarity between members of each probe set (and between members of each amplicon strand set) below a preset acceptance level; c) performing the following steps: A(i) determining whether, upon contacting under hybridizing conditions, a member of an amplicon set with the corresponding probe set; or, whether, upon contacting under hybridizing conditions, a member of a probe set with the corresponding amplicon set, the degree of cross-hybridization of said member with non-designated members of said probe set or said amplicon set, as applicable, will exceed a preset acceptance level; and, if not: A(ii) retaining, in the respective sets, said members of said amplicon set and said members of said probe set, and repeating step (A) (i) for another member of said amplicon set or for another member of said probe set; (B) (i) but if said degree of cross-hybridization does exceed said acceptance level: replacing, in said respective sets, the cross-hybridizing probe with a complementary antisense probe, or replacing the cross-hybridizing antisense amplicon strand with a complementary amplicon sense strand; and (B) (ii) repeating step (A) (i) with the replacement probes and amplicons, and if the degree of cross-hybridization does not exceed the acceptance level: retaining said antisense probe and said designated member anti-sense amplicon in their respective sets and repeating step (A) (i) for another member of said amplicon set; (B) (iii) but if the degree of cross-hybridization exceeds the acceptance level after repeating step (A) (i) with said replacement probes and amplicons: determining whether, upon contacting said replacement probes and amplicons, respectively, with probes in any other set of probes, or amplicons in any other set of amplicons, as applicable, the degree of cross-hybridization does not exceed the acceptance level, and if so, retaining said replacement members in their respective sets; but if the degree of cross-hybridization exceeds the acceptance level following such determination, placing the replacement members into a new set, and (C) repeating steps (A) (i) to (B) (iii), for another member of said amplicon set or said probe set, as applicable.
 19. The method of claim 18 further including the steps of: providing conditions capable of generating two subgroups (respectively, designated “WT” and “MP”) of each of the set of amplicon sense strands and the set of amplicon antisense strands, where the subgroups differ in sequence at one or more positions, where amplicons in a WT subgroup correspond with a wild-type region in the genomic sequence and where amplicons in a MP subgroup correspond with a mutant or polymorphic region in the genomic sequence; selecting four subgroups of probes (designated, respectively, WT sense, WT antisense, MP sense, MP antisense) such that probes in each subgroup are complementary, in whole or in substantial part, to a correspondingly labeled but complementary subgroup of amplicon strands, or to a subsequence thereof; determining: (i) whether the level of cross-hybridization between a WT amplicon antisense strand and the substantially complementary MP sense probe, or between an MP antisense amplicon and the substantially complementary WT sense probe, will exceed an acceptance level and, if so, (ii) determining whether said level of cross-hybridization will fall within the acceptance level if said MP sense or said WT sense probes are replaced with, respectively, a complementary WT antisense probe or a complementary MP antisense probe; and if so, (iii) determining whether said WT antisense probe or said MP antisense probe, as applicable, will, respectively, exceed the acceptance level for cross-hybridization with other MP sense amplicons or other WT sense amplicons, and if so, (iv) determining whether placing said WT antisense probe or said MP antisense probe into a separate subgroup together with complementary MP amplicons or WT amplicons, as applicable, together with any other probes and amplicons selected by steps (i) to (iv) for said separate subgroup, will exceed the acceptance level for cross-hybridization with said other probes and amplicons in said separate subgroup, and if not: proceeding with said separation into said separate subgroup; but if so, (v) repeating step (iv) using another separate subgroup, and proceeding with said separation into said another separate subgroup for probes and amplicons until the acceptance level is met.
 20. The method of claim 18 or 19 wherein the determination of the acceptance level includes reducing or minimizing the number of G-T base pairing.
 21. The method of claim 18 or 19 wherein the acceptance level is determined using the computer program PAM™.
 22. The method of claim 18 wherein the polynucleotide target is an mRNA, cDNA or a double-stranded polynucleotide, including DNA.
 23. The method of claim 18 wherein probes are encoded by associating probes with different sequences to carriers, including beads, said carriers having different optical signatures.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the encoding is with color.
 25. The method of claim 18 or 19 wherein one primer in a primer pair is labeled at the 5′ end with a label and the other primer in the primer pair has a phosphate modification at the 5′ end.
 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the amplicon including the primer with the phosphate modification is digested.
 27. The method of claim 18 or 19 wherein the hybridization of amplicons and probes is determined by detecting signals from the labels associated with amplicons.
 28. The method of claim 25 wherein the labels are Cy3, Cy5 and Cy5.5.
 29. The method of claim 19 wherein the WT probes and the MP probes which are closest in sequence differ at only one nucleotide position.
 30. The method of claim 19 wherein the WT amplicons and the MP amplicons which are closest in sequence differ at only one nucleotide position.
 31. A set of probes or amplicons selected by the process set forth in any of claims 1 to
 30. 32. Probes for screening samples for CFTR mutations associated with cystic fibrosis having sequences as set forth in SEQ ID Nos. 33 to
 83. 33. A method of testing for mutations or polymorphisms in a locus using an array of carrier-displayed probe pairs, with different carriers displaying different members of a probe pair, wherein one probe in a pair can be used to identify, by way of hybridization, a designated normal allele and the other probe can be used to identify, by way of hybridization, a counterpart designated variant allele, said carriers being encoded to identify the probes displayed thereof, comprising: amplifying the genomic regions corresponding to said designated alleles from a sample suspected to have mutations of interest, using two primers for each said region, wherein one of the primers is labeled at its 5′ end, to produce a set of labeled amplicons; producing single-stranded amplicons; placing the carrier-displayed probe pairs on a substrate; contacting, for a time which does not substantially exceed that needed to achieve hybridization between probes and amplicons, the bound array of probe pairs with the amplicons under hybridizing conditions; detecting hybridization of probes and amplicons based on signals from the labeled amplicons which hybridize to the probe array; and decoding the array to determine the identities of the hybridized amplicons, and thereby to determine the corresponding mutations or polymorphisms.
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein single stranded amplicons are produced by digestion of one of the amplicon strands.
 35. The method of claim 34 wherein an amplicon strand is preselected for digestion by phosphorylating the primer incorporated in it.
 36. The method of claim 35 wherein the digestion is with λ Exonuclease.
 37. The method of claim 33 wherein the locus is in the CFTR region.
 38. The method of claim 33 wherein the carrier-displayed probe pairs are affixed to the substrate.
 39. The method of claim 33 wherein the reacting time does not exceed 15 minutes.
 40. The method of claim 33 wherein the carriers are microbeads.
 41. The method of claim 33 wherein the substrate and bound carriers can be viewed under a microscope.
 42. The method of claim 33 wherein said genomic regions are mRNA (or cDNA derived therefrom) or a double-stranded polynucleotide, including DNA.
 43. The method of claim 38 wherein the microbeads are encoded with different optical signatures.
 44. The method of claim 33 wherein the encoding is with color.
 45. A method of differentiating homozygous, heterozygous and wild-type (for mutant or polymorphic or wild-type alleles in a target sample) using results obtained from a probe array designed to detect designated mutant or polymorphic alleles, and wild-type alleles, through hybridization of probes and targets, where such results are include compensation for mismatched probe-target binding, comprising: amplifying the genomic regions in the target sample predicted to include either the designated mutant or polymorphic alleles or the corresponding wild-type alleles, to produce labeled amplicons corresponding to the designated mutant or polymorphic alleles (“mutant/polymorphic amplicons”) and labeled amplicons corresponding to the wild-type alleles (“wild-type amplicons”); providing an array of probe pairs, one member being complementary to a mutant/polymorph amplicon and the other member being complementary to the corresponding wild-type amplicon; contacting the array probe pairs with the amplicons; detecting, for wild-type and mutant/polymorph amplicons, binding based on the presence of signals from the labeled bound amplicons, said signal being corrected to adjust for mismatched hybridization as follows: (i) determine the intensity of signals from mutant/polymorphic amplicons and from wild-type amplicon hybridization, as corrected for background signals, (ii) determine the ratio of said signals (i.e., either ratio (a): mutant/polymorphic to wild-type instensity; or ratio (b): wild-type to mutant/polymorphic instensity); and setting three relative ranges of values for the ratios: (i) wherein the lowest range of ratio (a) indicates that the sample is homozygous for wild-type and the lowest range of ratio (b) indicates that the sample is homozygous for or mutant/polymorph, (ii) a middle range indicates heterozygous, and (iii) the highest range of ratio (a) indicates that the sample is homozygous for mutant/polymorph and the highest range of ratio (b) indicates that the sample is homozygous for wild-type.
 46. The method of claim 45 further including the step of generating single stranded DNA from the wild-type and mutant/polymorph amplicons.
 47. The method of claim 46 further including the step of labeling one of the strands of either the wild-type or mutant/polymorph amplicons.
 48. The method of claim 45 wherein ratio (a) is interpreted such that: >2 indicates homozygous mutant/polymorph, <0.5 indicates homozygous wild-type, 0.8 to 1.2 indicates heterozygous.
 49. A method of correcting for false positive signals from mismatched probe-sample (or probe-amplicon) binding, based on signals obtained from an oligonucleotide probe array designed to detect genetic mutations or polymorphisms through hybridization of probes to samples, or to amplicons generated from samples, comprising: forming an array of probes; placing the array and the samples, or the array and the amplicons, in contact under annealing temperature and conditions; heating from the annealing temperature through a plurality of set temperature points, each said point representing the temperature at which a particular mismatched hybrid is expected to de-anneal; monitoring signals from the array during heating to determine the numbers (or relative numbers) of hybrids from the start and at set temperature points; and interpreting the results from the monitoring step based on the assumption that none of the signal at the different set points is from mismatched hybrids which were expected to have de-annealed below said respective set points.
 50. The method of claim 49 wherein the signals are from labels associated with amplicons or samples.
 51. The method of claim 50 wherein the labels can be optically detected.
 52. The method of claim 49 wherein the sample or amplicons in the mismatched hybrids differ in sequence by one nucleotide from the properly matched sample or amplicon.
 53. The method of claim 49 wherein the temperature ranges from 45 to 60° C.
 54. A method of designing a probe array for use in hybridization analysis with complementary amplicons, for detecting known mutations and polymorphisms in a genomic region, comprising: (i) providing a family of amplicons in which one strand is designated sense and the complementary strand is designated anti-sense, said amplicons amplified from particular genomic regions in which said mutations or polymorphisms are located; (ii) selecting an amplicon from said family; (iii) aligning the selected amplicon with the remaining amplicons in the family by pairwise alignment or by multiple sequence alignment and determining homology scores with respect to the selected amplicon; (iv) ranking the amplicons in the family in order of increasing or decreasing homology score; (v) removing amplicons from the family whose homology scores exceed a preset acceptance level and placing the removed amplicons (and the complementary probes) in a separate group, and repeating steps (i) to (v) with another amplicon in the family; (vi) placing each amplicon in turn in contact with the probes in a particular group, and determining cross-hybridization with other probes in that group; (vii) selecting the complementary strand of any probes and amplicons for which the cross-hybridization in step (vi) exceeded a preset acceptance level, and again determining the cross-hybridization with other probes in that group; and (viii) placing any probes and amplicons into a separate group where the cross-hybridization determined in step (vii) exceeds a preset acceptance level.
 55. The method of claim 54 wherein following step (viii) the process is repeated, but the objective is to generate the minimal number of separate groups of amplicons and probes.
 56. The method of claim 54 wherein following step (viii), groups with more than a predetermined number of amplicons (and probes) are examined and, for such groups, there is a determination whether amplicons (and probes) therein should be placed into a new and separate group based on defining a new lower maximum predetermined homology score.
 57. The method of claim 54 wherein cross-hybridization is reduced by generating amplicons which are shorter than the amplicons displaying excessive cross-hybridization.
 58. A method of correcting an assay image of an array of signals generated from a multiplexed hybridization-mediated assay, where individual signals indicate hybridization events, and where optically encoded carriers are used for encoding of the individual hybridization events in the assay, comprising: constructing a background map using signals from negative control carriers (i.e., encoded carriers which are not associated with a hybridization event); and subtracting the background map signals from the assay image to produce a corrected assay image.
 59. The method of claim 58 wherein the constant (i.e., the spatially non-varying) portion of the background map is subtracted from the assay image, which is then divided by the corrected background map.
 60. The method of claim 58 wherein background map is generated by locating the centroids of the negative control carriers included in the array at a preselected abundance, said negative control carriers being encoded and being designed so as to not participate in hybridization; and constructing the associated Voronoi tessellation consisting of a series of polygons each containing a negative control carrier, and filling each polygon with the intensity of its constituent negative control carrier to produce a map.
 61. The method of claim 58 wherein filtering operations are applied to correct for effects from neighboring negative control carriers. 